Start the Year Embodied: Grounding Your Leadership Presence in 2026
By Jeff Dupont, CEO, Durango Chamber of Commerce
December 2, 2025
As we begin 2026, there’s one resolution that can elevate both your personal life, and your work life: become a more embodied leader. Embodied leadership shows up in how we listen, how we move through conflict, and how we hold space for others, even when things feel uncertain.
Embodied leaders prioritize personal wellness and lead from a regulated nervous system, which supports clarity, composure, and connection. They stay steady under pressure, respond rather than react, and bring a calm presence into the room. That energy is contagious. It creates a ripple effect. When your presence is steady, it influences your team, your clients, and your family.
In a world of constant demands, it’s easy to default to urgency. Leadership isn’t just about getting things done, it’s about how you show up while doing it. An embodied leader models resilience, cultivates psychological safety, and sets the emotional tone for the organization.
How do I become a more embodied leader?
- Model Wellness – Prioritize rest, movement, and recovery. Do not glorify overwork. Encourage personal wellness and balance for the team.
- Regulate Your Nervous System – Create an environment that contributes to calmness. Take breaks. Limit outside noise and ongoing distractions.
Many haven’t prioritized wellness because they are not convinced of the ROI. For me, it meant reorganizing my schedule around wellness instead of squeezing it in “if there’s time.” We were taught to equate self-care with indulgence or to "earn" our rest after our to-do list is completed. What if rest is a strategy on our to-do list? What if movement makes you sharper and more creative?
In 2026, my personal wellness will be treated like other Chamber initiatives, with clear, measurable KPIs:
- Walk or bike for 30 minutes daily, preferably outside.
- Exercise three to four times per week.
- Meditate for five minutes daily.
Beyond movement and meditation, nervous system care should also be treated as a leadership strategy, not a personal indulgence. Your nervous system is the leadership engine driving your embodiment. When it’s calm and regulated, clarity follows. A balanced nervous system puts space between an incident and our response. It moves us from reacting emotionally to responding with intention.
When your system is regulated, you recover more quickly, approach uncertainty with openness instead of control, and give others your full attention. The practice of calming your nervous system starts with small, intentional changes: silencing non-essential notifications, reducing disruptive alarms, taking breaks, creating quieter workspaces. These aren't just productivity hacks; they are strategies to regulate your nervous system and preserve focus.
The path to embodied leadership looks different for everyone, but it always starts with intention. I’ll be the first to admit: I don’t have this all figured out. Embodied leadership isn’t a milestone I’ve reached, it’s a road I’m walking. Literally. And I often need to remind myself that progress beats perfection.
So, as we move into 2026, join me in making embodied leadership one of this year’s goals. Build out your personal wellness KPIs and make choices that calm your system and sharpen your presence. Start your year with small, impactful shifts that put you on the path toward a healthier you, then watch your progress ripple out to your family, your team, and your organization.